News Shooting Shotgun

What’s the best general-purpose weight for a shotgun?

Shotgun advice: What’s the best weight for a general-purpose 12-bore shotgun in order for it to be relatively easy to carry, but not recoil unduly?

Would you like to speak to our readers? We offer sponsored articles and advertising to put you in front of our audience. Find out more.

SHOTGUN ADVICE
Mike George
The most adaptable gun for a man who does clay shooting as well as pigeon or game shooting is a Sporter, and the ideal weight for one is around 7.3/4lb.

Most over-under game shotguns these days weigh around 7.1/4lb.

Old books tend to suggest the ideal weight for a game gun is 6lb of gun for every ounce of shot you plan to fire, in other words about 6.3/4lb assuming you plan to use loads up to 1.1/8oz.

That’s fine if you plan to do a lot of walking and not much shooting, but for driven days or work from a pigeon hide an extra half-pound makes for a much more comfortable day.

Shotgun Shotgun product reviews

FAMARS: the shotgun I didn’t know I needed

Discover the world of FAMARS - Italy’s master gunmaker blending exquisite engraving, elite engineering, and timeless craftsmanship. Meet the man behind its revival.